The Chief Executive and the Board of the interim Health Information and Quality Authority today welcomed the establishment of the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance. 

The new Commission, which will be chaired by Dr. Deirdre Madden, BL, was launched today by the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney, TD.

Dr. Tracey Cooper, CEO of the interim Health Information and Quality Authority who will sit on the new Commission said; 'As the independent Authority with primary responsibility for assuring the safety of patients and other people who use the health and social services in Ireland, we believe that the new Commission will play a key role in informing patient safety and quality in care for all users of Ireland's health services'.

Dr. Cooper added; 'The interim Authority recognises the potential of the work of the Commission in bringing together key stakeholders to develop a strategic and cohesive framework for quality and safety at all levels of the health and social care services. This work will inform the work of the Health Information and Quality Authority as it evolves.

Ends.

Further Information: 

Laurie Mannix / Anne Dalton, MRPA KINMAN Communications, 01 678 8330.

Notes to the Editor: 

About the Health Information and Quality Authority.

The Health Information and Quality Authority is being established as a central tenet of the Government's Health Services Reform Programme. The Health Bill 2006 will establish the Health Information and Quality Authority on a legal basis. It is envisaged that all stages of the Bill will be passed by the Dail and Seanad by the end of March. In the meantime the interim Authority is responsible for putting the systems and procedures in place to enable the Authority commence its work as soon as the legislation is passed.

The Health Information and Quality Authority will be the first truly independent Authority working to assure that Ireland's health services are delivered to world class standards. The Irish Hospital Services Accreditation Board (IHSAB) and the Office of the Chief Inspectorate of Social Services will be part of the new Authority. The Health Bill 2006 sets out the Health Information and Quality Authority's functions as:

• Setting and monitoring standards on safety and quality in health and personal social services provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) or on behalf of the HSE and advising the Minister and the HSE on the level of compliance with those standards;
• Carrying out reviews to ensure the best outcomes for resources available to the HSE;
• Carrying out assessments of health technologies;
• Evaluating information on health and social services and the health and welfare of the population and advising the Minister and the HSE on deficiencies identified;
• Setting information standards and monitoring compliance with those standards Undertaking investigations as to the safety, quality and standards of services where the Minister believes that there is serious risk to the health or welfare of a person receiving services.